Little Big Econ State Forest and Econlockhatchee River Paddling Trail

Little Big Econ State Forest’s most notable feature is the narrow, winding Econlockhatchee River, which flows 17 miles through the forest and empties into the St. Johns River. The Econlockhatchee River is designated as an Outstanding Florida Waterway and is the second-largest tributary to the St. Johns River.

The St. Johns River, which makes up the eastern boundary of the forest, is designated as an American Heritage River and, at 310 miles long, is the longest river in Florida.

The forest provides a crucial source of protection for wetlands and associated natural communities within the floodplains of the Econlockhatchee and St. Johns rivers. Other natural communities include wet prairie, pine flatwoods, sandhill and scrub.

The forest supports a variety of wildlife such as alligators, southern fox squirrel, gopher tortoise, gopher frog, bald eagle, sandhill crane, deer, turkey, gray squirrel, roseate spoonbill and wood stork.

The forest is open during daylight hours for visitors to enjoy hiking, canoeing, horseback riding, bicycling, wildlife viewing and picnicking. Seasonal hunting takes place in sections of the forest east of Snow Hill Road. Please see the hunting section below for dates.

The Econlockhatchee River Paddling Trail was designated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Paddlers can start their adventure at Seminole County’s canoe launch on Willingham Road and end their trip 8 miles upstream at the Snow Hill Road canoe launch, or they can paddle the full 20 miles to the C.S. Lee Boat Ramp on State Road 46. Along the trail there are two first-come, first-served day-use pavilions where you can have lunch or to take cover from a passing afternoon thunderstorm.